Search Results for: blog educating teachers and students

The Pros and Cons of Special Ed Vouchers

Ohio has expanded its school voucher program to include all special education students. This means that parents of kids who have special needs, of any kind, can get financial support to put their child into a private school. The public schools may face financial difficulties as a result of the voucher system. According to Dictionary.com, a school voucher is “a government cash grant or tax credit for parents, equal to all or part of the cost of educating their child at an elementary or secondary school of their choice”. It may also be called an “educational voucher” or a “scholarship”. … Continue reading →

Educating Teachers and Students

It’s the start of the new school year and everyone is excited (and nervous) from parents to high school kids to kindergarteners. For some kids, the beginning of school doesn’t mean the reuniting of friends, it signifies that start of another year of loneliness and anxiety. This can be especially true for children who have special needs. Children can be cruel to other kids, especially when there are things they don’t understand, like why someone is in wheelchair or use crutches or why someone has to cough all the time. Kids often see someone that’s different and since they don’t … Continue reading →

My Frustrations with Teachers and Above Average Students

We have had the discussion about educating gifted children before. We all realize that much more focus is placed on struggling children than those who are well beyond exceeding. Most teachers are threatened by intelligent students and have no idea how to take them beyond their level. Those that do know how are not willing to put in the extra time of planning. Today I want to stay clear of the word gifted. Some children are smart but not gifted. Just because a child is intelligent and may function higher than the standards set for his or her grade level … Continue reading →

Educating Twice-Exceptional Students

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Since the No Child Left Behind act five years ago, there has been much talk about various groups of children being “left behind”. As society and as educators, we group children into categories by learning abilities, race, economical status, gender, and so on. We then examine the different groups and track to see which groups are succeeding or falling behind. The latest group of children to be evaluated is a group that I never had really thought about. This group is the twice-exceptional students. They are high-ability children with learning disabilities or differences. These children are academically gifted but also … Continue reading →

Homeschooling the Creative Child: My Creative Teachers

As an artistic person, I am especially interested in educating creative kids. While creative children may very well be able to have an interest in art, history, science, and English, many will find these subjects inane and boring without a bit of creativity on the part of the instructor. When I was in public high school, I had a science teacher who considered my creative nature. His name was Mr. Vangor. (His is one of the few names I remember). Mr. Vangor taught Chemistry and AP chemistry. I first took chemistry as a junior in High school, and it was … Continue reading →

The New Trend in Special Education

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Like a pendulum on a grandfather clock, ideas about the best way to educate children who have special needs seem to swing back and forth. Do you know what to expect in the new school year? What is better for children who have special needs? Is it best to group these students into classrooms with other students who also have special needs, or is it better to place these kids into “mainstream” classrooms? Historically speaking, the trends in Special Education shift between these two ideas, over and over again. Right now, many schools across the country are mostly focused on … Continue reading →

When Your Child Needs a Feeding Tube

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For children with certain conditions, like cystic fibrosis, gaining weight can be a challenge. For some children, the final step to helping them gain or maintain an adequate, healthy weight may be a feeding tube. If this is the case for your child, you may be feeling overwhelmed by your own emotions and unsure of how to introduce the feeding tube to your child. Here are some tips to help you all get through the transition and be comfortable with the decision to get a feeding tube. First, it has probably taken a lot of consideration, research and late nights … Continue reading →

Can Bullying Be Stopped Before It Starts?

Growing up, everyone experiences the wrath of a bully on at least one occasion. For a child with a disability, it can be a daily battle. As adults, most of us know that bullying is wrong and mean, and we try to teach our children to be nice to everyone. But for kids, this can be difficult when they are faced with the peer pressure to fit in. There is always advice being offered on how to deal with a bully at school, but is it possible to keep the bullying from ever starting in the first place? Maybe. When … Continue reading →

Finding the Right Tutor for Your Child

For children with special needs, tutors often become a staple of their educational experience. Whether your child has a learning disability or frequently misses school due to a chronic health condition, tutors can be an essential tool in ensuring that he stays on track academically. Here are some ideas on how to find the best tutor for your child at any age and any stage. 1 Know What Your Child’s Needs Are. Talk to your child’s teacher and go with your own knowledge of your child. Perhaps he just needs help doing homework, help learning to read or do math, … Continue reading →

Reasons Not to Homeschool Your Special Needs Child

If you are a parent to a special needs child, you may be considering homeschooling her for a variety of reasons. While homeschooling can certainly have its advantages, especially for children with special needs, there are also reasons why it may not be the right fit for your child. 1 You may be anxious about your child being isolated from the general population of students, especially if her learning needs are not that extreme. Many public schools are switching over to inclusive educating settings. This means that many children with learning disabilities or physical disabilities are in the regular classroom … Continue reading →